Cacerola vs. cazo vs. olla
While cacerola, cazo, and olla are all essential pieces of cookware used on a stove, they differ significantly in their depth, the configuration of their handles, and their intended culinary purpose.
Cacerola
B1A cacerola is typically a wide, reliable pot with low vertical sides and two small loop handles on opposite sides. It is wider than it is tall, making it excellent for even heat distribution. It equates to a casserole pot, Dutch oven, or shallow stew pot, and is often used for cooking rice or braising meats.
Por favor, saca la cacerola roja para preparar el arroz.
(Please take out the red casserole pot to prepare the rice.)
La carne quedó muy tierna después de tres horas en la cacerola.
(The meat turned out very tender after three hours in the stew pot.)
No llenes la cacerola hasta el borde o se derramará la salsa.
(Do not fill the pan to the rim or the sauce will spill.)
Esta cacerola de hierro fundido es perfecta para el horno.
(This cast iron Dutch oven is perfect for the oven.)
Cazo
B1A cazo is distinguished by having a single long handle rather than two side handles. It is generally smaller and is the direct equivalent of the English saucepan. It is typically used for quick tasks involving liquids, such as heating milk, melting butter, or boiling eggs.
Usa el cazo pequeño para calentar la leche del desayuno.
(Use the small saucepan to heat the milk for breakfast.)
Necesito un cazo para derretir la mantequilla y el chocolate.
(I need a saucepan to melt the butter and the chocolate.)
Pon agua en el cazo para hervir dos huevos.
(Put water in the saucepan to boil two eggs.)
El mango del cazo está demasiado caliente para tocarlo sin guante.
(The handle of the saucepan is too hot to touch without a glove.)
Olla
A2An olla is a deep vessel with high sides and two small handles (or ears) on the sides. It is taller than it is wide, designed to hold large volumes of liquid. It translates to pot or stockpot and is the standard choice for soups, broths, stews, or boiling pasta.
Mi abuela siempre prepara el caldo de pollo en su olla favorita.
(My grandmother always prepares chicken broth in her favorite pot.)
Necesitamos una olla más grande para hervir toda esta pasta.
(We need a bigger pot to boil all this pasta.)
Compramos una olla a presión para cocinar los frijoles más rápido.
(We bought a pressure cooker to cook beans faster.)
Tapa la olla para que el agua hierva más rápido.
(Cover the pot so the water boils faster.)
Summary
To distinguish them, look at the handles and the depth. If it has one long handle, it is a cazo (saucepan). If it has two small handles and is tall/deep for soups, it is an olla (pot). If it has two small handles but is wide and shallow for rice or brazing, it is a cacerola (casserole/stew pot).